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Sunday, 20 January 2013

How Do You Plan Your Quilts?

Do you use patterns? Prefer to use one fabric line? Or do you mix and match fabrics? Do you sketch out your vision first? Or do you just dive right in like I do and hope for the best?

I 'see' quilts in my head. I plan them out there, and then I get on with cutting fabric - often with a hopeful wish that I've got it right. I worry that what I envision in my head won't be the same in reality. Sometimes I am disappointed.

Not today!

I've had Singing the Blues in my head for a while. When I first started cutting I thought I would surround all the plus signs with Kona white and just have them floating there. But when it came time for piecing I decided to anchor those plus signs to the edge a little bit. Just enough to give it some balance. And I am so happy with how it looks so far. I am also happy I replaced the lime green plus for a bright orange one.

That would be me with one trouser leg hanging out its welly.Helen's wellies may I add.She has finally caught up with me in shoe size.And please note, it is still snowing.

While I sat and sewed these together I planned how I was going to quilt it. And in the early hours of the morning I suddenly knew what binding fabric I would use. It is not a big quilt (as you can see for yourself). Emily asked who it was for and I told her it was for me. Apparently this is a good thing as I am 'always giving everything I make away'. So says the child with two cushions, one pillow cover, and a quilt on her bed! I am thinking of hanging it up somewhere. Maybe in my fictional future sewing space.

56 comments:

I like to plan and calculate before I start my quilts. I think we approach quilts in a manner that befits our personalities (yep, my manner is "control freak"). I love how your head works Susan, so keep doing it your way! Great idea to anchor those plusses to the edge, works a treat. That is a smashing quilt and I'm glad you are keeping it for yourself!

It's wonderful! Swapping the green for orange and anchoring some shapes to the edge were brilliant ideas! I tend to plan in my head and then do lots of sums to see how much fabric I'm going to need (or check I've got enough) - I love that part! I like to have some idea of where I'm heading, partly because it takes me so long to get there!

Planning, what's that? i think i've heard of it, but it's only a theoretical concept in this house. Great quilt, and a good idea to keep it for yourself (for a change), it's one of my plans for the year, make more stuff i keep myself or for me! : )

gorgeousness on a stick (but without the stick, obv). Quilts grow in my brain, mainly in the middle of the night. I never draw them out beforehand, but I do sometimes use patterns (although not so much anymore)

I have no method. It changes each project. Usually I dream it up in my head. Sometimes it makes it to the sketch phase. Sometimes I just cut then mess about with the layout once I've cut - that's a sure fire way to generate lots of "scraps" but oh well, it's fun!

I'm half and half, flying by the seat of my pants, crossing everything, that what is in my head comes out how I planned it. Sometimes using a pattern so that I don't need to think too much , and just play with fabric choices. Love this, especially the pops of bright colour against those beautiful blues.O

What a great quilt- the colours, the design and the story behind it! I think I mostly use the evolutionary method- mine start with a block and sort of 'evolve'. If I do follow a pattern, inevitably I will change it somehow to suit me better!

I am more control freak than doing it in my head. Although, I can 'see' more in my thoughts than before. Sometimes something sparks in you and you HAVE to do it. I like your quilt and the anchoring of the pluses really works. Di x

I love the quilt.I draw a quilt map, work out the measurements to within a fraction of an inch, then something usually goes wrong when I'm about half way through and my work never quite looks the same as my map. Take my mother-in-law's Pennsylvania block and mariners stars quilt .... I halved the number of blocks dropped the stars and appliqued flowers instead !!

Depends on what it is - for bags I write it all done because of all the measurements that have to fit together, for quilts, I'm going with the dive on in there option right now. I'm calling it the 'improv' method ;o)

Oh that's fun!I mostly plan what I'm going to do and seem more often to stick to one fabric line at a time - which is a bit boring really. Must make a mental note to go outside my comfort zone in future!!

Loving your quilt. I've got a mental note to make a plus quilt where the pluses sort of float like this. I'm not very good at following patterns for quilts. The very reason a pattern is needed probably means the block is complicated and I get bored easily if something is going to be too time consuming. I tend see how I want the quilt to look and make it up in my head. I only scribble down notes if I'm making bags or items where things *have* to fit together a certain way.

I mostly just see so,etching in my head and go for it. Sometimes I will sketch something so I don't forget a particular detail I want to try. If I do use a pattern I always deviate even if just a little bit! Must be the rebel in me. I love this new plus sign quilt!

I do plan ahead but am open to mid quilt inspiration. I have a giant design wall that is a big help. I have rarely used one line of fabric in a quilt. I love your plus quilt. Love the way the white creeps in. Your pant leg is just the start of what could be a trend!

Why not hang it on the wall of your current sewing/dining room. It looks like art to me. I so want to make a plus quilt, this one is so inspiring. I generally work with an idea and the fabrics, like you do. Even with a pattern, I am often adapting or changing as the fabrics direct me.

Your quilt is beautiful - what a creative mind you have! Most of my quilts are scrap quilts ... some with the bow tie block, some with the disappearing nine patch, etc. I totally lack imagination in creating something. How nice that you still have snow (or is it?) Cold here with dreadful wind chill warnings. :(

That is a question I am always asking myself when I see all those lovely quilts out there.

How do I do? I am chaotic and I stay chaotic. I have a pattern in my head but the fabrics are used as they come. I am sometimes not good in "sticking to something" and as new ideas come up that makes me change the design I had ...

First things first - the plus quilt is gorgeous and I'm seriously considering making one with my Field Study. I've made one before but I want to make one for me. It's really lovely. Planning for quilts? What's that then. I start out cutting never knowing whether I have enough fabric or solid and certainly without batting, backing or binding and usually thread!

Lovely quilt, that will look fab as a wall hanging! I am generally a "make-it-up-as-you-go" quilter, I don't think I have ever followed a pattern, although I do sometimes plan bits and then make up the rest (like with the space invader blocks for my son's quilt). I generally pick colours/fabrics first and then try to decide what to do with them!R x

Your top is gorgeous, Susan! I love the blues with just the few hints of warm colors and the snowy background couldn't be more perfect!I plan most of my quilts in EQ and even go for the extra mile of scanning the exact fabrics I want to use. Is that weird? I love surprises, but not so much when it comes to quilting. Except Easy Street...

How interesting to hear how everyone plans their quilts. I am a complete control freak. I plan out each quilt, I spend a LOT of time planning quilts in the evenings, I sketch and colour in my ideas, make notes and then pick fabric, don't follow just one line of fabric. During piecing stage I've also been known to arrange the blocks where I want them and then take a photo and print it and follow those positions so that I don't get a nasty surprise of 2 of the same blocks sitting side by side. My Mum is an improv quilter and despairs about me. :)

I think my planning process is slightly different every time and depends on the project. Some I use patterns for, some I meticulously figure out from a sketch and plan to the last scrap, and some I start sewing and then I determine what it will be from there. It's funny how thoughts germinate and grow in your mind, though, isn't it?

Lovely colours... Beautiful quilt.... The Orange & Pink are great 'zingers'.... I start out with a plan and deviate as required..... We have a good amount of snow here in Suffolk.. It all looks so pretty - especially when you don't need to leave the house.

Ooh, it looks fab! Love the idea of anchoring it to the edges a bit, and the little pops of colour look brilliant. I vacillate between planning and throwing myself in. I tend to get better results when I plan, I have to say, but that's probably because I utterly lack actual creativity!

love all the blues in this with that punch of orange gorgeous and the white snow brings out the white of the cotton background!

I have never really followed a quilt pattern (my brain can't do it) but I do use tutes for maybe a new block or sometimes I use my quilt programme to plan a new one. Mainly I plan so I can check I have enough fabric as I don't have a huge stash! Often my best ideas come to me in the middle of the night or when I am doing something mundane like washing dishes! We are all different in our creative processes! xxxx

Looks really good Susan. An addition quilt is in my list of quiilts to make some day. i'm afraid I'm not as creative as you. I follow patterns, or I sketch out ideas from other pics of quilts. I don't ever really dive right in. My perfectionist streaks makes that seem too scary I think.mi hate having to do things again to make them "right".

Your quilt looks great. When I have an idea for a quilt, I will usually do a rough sketch of it on paper and do a few calculations. Occasionally I use a pattern, but I think it's always more fun to make up your own.

SOOOO Pretty, Miss Susan! What a gorgeous top! What ever you do when planning a quilt it certainly works for you :)I'm more of a wing-it kind of gal. I see a block I like, make as many as I feel like ('til I get bored or run out of fabric) then I stitch them into a top. A little free form, I guess, which is SO not me in real life :)

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